Old Town sees upward trend in local business openings

Some community leaders are reminding everyone to shop local this holiday season, and Old Town Pocatello is seeing a lot of new businesses to choose from.

Old Town executive director Stephanie Palagi said this season seven new businesses opened in Old Town and she is expecting three more to open within the next couple of months. That will be a 95% occupancy rate in those old, historic buildings.

“We are so excited that this has been a great year for local businesses,” Palagi said. “(This growth) is unusual for this time of the year. Usually we see an influx in the spring and then earlier in the fall, but this year we’re seeing growth well-into the early winter months.”

She said the move toward the “buy local” and “small business Saturday” trend is growing which has helped contribute to the demand for sustaining these local businesses in Old Town.

“The small businesses of Old Town and the small businesses of Pocatello are the backbone to our local economy and the stronger our small business community is, the stronger our local economy is,” she added.

The Black Rail Antique shop is one of the seven new businesses that just opened this season, and one out of the 14 antique shops Pocatello has to offer. But that competition does not have co-owner Jeri Lewis worried at all since the small business trend is looking promising for everyone.

“I think it’s a really good time and I know there are other businesses opening the same time we are, and it’s just so awesome seeing Pocatello coming back to life,” Lewis said. “The businesses already here are awesome so we’re not scared. We’re ready.”

Lewis said another factor contributing toward a lot of business’ success in Old Town is the fact they are located in such historic, well-preserved buildings.

For example, according to the National Register of Historic Places the building Black Rail is located in was built back in 1915 and served as the community’s department store.

“It’s so cool to be in one of the buildings that was the beginning of Pocatello and here we are bringing in furniture that would have been around in the same day and time period,” Lewis added.

On Friday night the community is invited to come out and visit the businesses in Old Town, both new and old, during the Art Walk event.

To find out how to contact these businesses, you can stop in to the Old Town office and pick up a flier or visit its website here.